By Cheerful Catunao
August 14,2015
Often you will hear that purchasing goods on Guam is too expensive. Shopping for affordable goods coupled with saving money for future investments is a challenge for many locals on the island. Yet many still manage to shop and save money with these tips that will turn any regular shopper into a smart shopper!
BUDGET TO SAVE!
“You need to budget your expenses to reduce your expenses,” said Marc Elliot, owner of the local restaurant Pokeyz and an alumnus of the University of Hawaii’s College of Business.
Elliot says a general plan for where your money is going to go can help anyone save money. Ensuring that you have a quality product can benefit you in the long-term.
“As a consumer and business owner, I purchase premium products that serve to reduce my expenses in the future and to protect my brand’s integrity,” continued Elliot.
But who said quality products couldn’t be affordable?
“Sometimes you can find premium products like phone cases in the local shops on the second floor at the Agana Shopping Center,” says Maria Romulo, a recent graduate from the UOG School of Business. “For my budget, I support local businesses to save money.”
BUY WHAT YOU NEED.
The biggest mistake shoppers make is shopping without a list of and buying what they don’t need.
“People tend to fall into the ‘spending-to-save-trap,”’ says Danica Mallari, marketing manager of Guam Food Tours. “When I go shopping for things I need, and I see something on sale, I think of that item like this: I’m not saving money by buying that sale item, I’m spending more money for an item I don’t need.”
She says keeping a list and sticking to it helps her keep more cash in her wallet.
So turn yourself into a smart shopper. Budget to save. And buy what you need.
